Eclectic and Eccentric- The Elizabeth Jennings Jam Sessions

Spring is in the air and the Elizabeth Jennings Jam session, North Oxford, is on for this group making music on the banks of the  Oxford canal.  While this Sunday afternoon event  (2-4 pm) welcomes in every spring and summer, music of the last six decades ranging through folk, country, blues, ragtime, early European and Latin American music, the genres and ambience can sometimes be a far cry from the tranquil Oxford city canal atmosphere, notably bawdy English ballads going back a few centuries and haunting blues renditions harking back to the Mississippi delta at the beginning of the 20^th century.  An eclectic group combining professional and amateur musicians play a variety of  contemporary and intriguing traditional musical instruments, such as Bowed Psaltery, accordions, musical saws, lutes, keyboards, string and percussion.

While the Sunday afternoon sessions  have yet to be “discovered” or placed on the regular tourist To-Do lists, visitors looking for a part of Oxford away from the maddening crowds of regular tours are enthusiastically welcomed and invited to join in; a hidden gem and refreshing experience.

The Elizabeth Jennings session is indeed a beautiful quirky part of Oxford but one that gives a lot of fun to session musicians, locals peering from their balconies, in whoever is lucky enough to escape from the hordes of tourists in Oxford city centre. Bystanders have also been known to occasionally introduce a tune,  a dance or unusual musical instrument. The group welcomes all people  to join in and  before you know it there is a tambourine or set of bells in your hand and you find yourself singing, humming or tapping your feet, “there is always a song or beat inside of you and you just have to let it out!”

So, bring a picnic and a tune and join the fun on the Green at Elizabeth Jennings Way and look out for notices for performances at NOA in the off-season. There is no charge for the event.

Direction: From Oxford city centre, take Woodstock Road and turn off left into Elizabeth Jennings Way (corner of Keble and St Hughs sports ground) which leads to the Elizabeth Jennings bridge and the green is on the left of the bridge alongside the canal.